Top 10 Bands That Inspired Coldplay

One of the things we’ve always liked about Coldplay is that they’ve always been quite blunt about their many influences. While the talented band has tons, we’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 Artists That Have Inspired Coldplay.

Some bands like U2[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”][/lastfm] and [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Radiohead[/lastfm] are pretty obvious, but did you know that Coldplay has also been influenced by the ex-member of a boy band?

Think you can pick out some of Coldplay’s influences? Don’t miss Coldplay’s exclusive performance from the legendary stage of New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater for Live on Letterman.

Watch the entire concert live on Tuesday, September 20 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT, right here. Presented by AT&T, rethink possible.

10. [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]A-Ha[/lastfm]

Photo by David S. Holloway//Getty Images

[pullquote quote=”The first band I ever loved was A-Ha.”]”I found myself in Amsterdam the other day and I put A-Ha’s first record on…I just remembered how much I loved it. It’s incredible songwriting…Everyone asks what inspired us, what we’ve been trying to steal from and what we listened to as we were growing up – the first band I ever loved was A-Ha.”–Chris Martin

[pullquote quote=”It’s kind of a Beatles reference.”]”What’s it all about is a general malaise… well it is actually a hill. I can tell you that ‘Violet Hill’ is actually a street and joins Abbey Road – so it’s kind of a Beatles reference…I don’t think I’ve ever revealed that in public.”–Chris Martin

[pullquote quote=”One song we’re always trying to chase is ‘Cry Me A River.’ “] “One song we’re always trying to chase is ‘Cry Me A River’ in terms of the beats and everything…I know that is one of Will’s favorite songs. And he did all the drums on Lost!“-Chris Martin

[pullquote quote=”What I love about Ian, and obviously I love the Bunnymen and I love his singing, but also he’s not scared of anyone.”]”I’ve met various people who’ve made me more and more at peace with what I do musically with my friends. Tim Wheeler, Danny McNamara and other people, but with Mac because he’s so infamous and he’s so as you expect when you meet him, all cigarettes and sunglasses you’re sh*t-scared for a bit, but then you realise that what’s driving him is the same as what’s driving you and your band.”

“What I love about Ian, and obviously I love the Bunnymen and I love his singing, but also he’s not scared of anyone. He certainly doesn’t show it anyway. Whereas I’d say, ‘I’ve met David Bowie’, he’d say, ‘No, no, no. It’s David Bowie met me.'” I thought, ‘Right, yeah.’

“I used to try to buy him soup and we struck up a bizarre friendship…Mac sometimes has a drink and he’s harder to talk to then. When I was doing the vocals for ‘In My Place’ I was wearing his coat. He was sat there, really pissed on red wine. He just kept saying, ‘Go on, son. Go on.‘”-Chris Martin

[pullquote quote=”So a large part of that is thanks to the Definitely Maybe DVD.”] “I was at home watching this DVD that came out last year (’04)… and watching how they (Oasis) started off very technological and trying to do everything perfect, with great studios and (it) ended up just being the five of them in a room, bashing out the songs.

“I suddenly realised that’s really what we haven’t been doing, so we went back to a tiny rehearsal space and we started the album all over again…So a large part of that is thanks to the Definitely Maybe DVD.”–Chris Martin

“Later as they were warming up ‘God Put A Smile Upon Your Face’, Martin enthused that it sounded like their “favourite” Radiohead song ‘2+2=5’ and quipped: “Sorry we shouldn’t be talking about plagiarism live on radio! Ignore that.”

[pullquote quote=”We were 21 and he was very much a hero.”]”[Shiver] is a blatant Jeff Buckley attempt…Not quite as good, that’s what I think. We were 21 and he was very much a hero, and as with those things it tends to filter through.”-Chris Martin

[pullquote quote=”We have always been a step behind Muse.”]”We love making big shows up and trying to work out what lights will look cool. We get very nerdy about it because we can’t believe we’re allowed to do it…But we will never get as extreme as Muse. We’ll let them do the biggest thing and then think, ‘Okay, how did they do it?’ We have always been a step behind Muse. They’re so great live.” –Chris Martin

[pullquote quote=”Our relationship is akin to a dog and its master.”] “I’ve lost all respect for fame, but I haven’t lost all respect for respect. So the one great thing about being famous is that I get to meet people who I respect. Our relationship is akin to a dog and its master. I’ll always look up to him (Michael Stipe).”–Chris Martin

[pullquote quote=”‘Viva La Vida’ is our ‘Unforgettable Fire.’ “] “U2 once said they were reapplying for the job as the best band in the world. On ‘Viva La Vida…’ we feel like we’re just reapplying to be a band again…I always view our albums in terms of U2 albums. ‘Viva La Vida’ is our ‘Unforgettable Fire’ in that it’s less straightforward, more oblique. It’s about sex and death and love and fear and travel and illness. There’s light and there’s dark.”

“I always dream about other musicians. And with U2 or Radiohead it’s always, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ And they are never interested in hanging out with us. It’s a permanent feeling of being at school and the bigger boys don’t want to play with you.”–Chris Martin